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Friday, May 11, 2012

Wahoo! We checked another task of the playroom checklist! It's getting closer and closer to being called donzo! Well, as done as any room ever is... knowing me it will get it's share of little tweaks here and there, but the wish list for the room is slowly diminishing.

This week we tackled the book storage project.

When it came to storing books in our playroom, I just had a few simple requirements... The books had to be easy to reach, easy to put away and in a safe location.

We planned on using them on the floor of the pantry... but as I was trying to dream up some DIY book storage for the playroom... I kept finding myself coming back to the crate.

I had painted each crate white...

To create book storage for the playroom, all we would have to do is cut the crate right down the middle. To do this, the hubs just used a table saw:

He cut the two handled sides first, then went right down the middle of the bottom second.

And we instantly had two pieces. We could have used painters tape to ensure the wood wouldn't fray, but we didn't have any issues at all.

Then, my Mr. just installed some simple wall hanging brackets to the edges of the crate.

I really really wanted to use the empty wall space next to the window, but I knew that would mean kids standing on the bench and pulling on the new book shelves. So instead, I decided to balance out the entertainment center and put them right on the wall at kid level.

Because the bottom of the crates had slats, I just improvised and cut an extra school folder we had, to fit the bottom of the crate.

Anything could have worked, poster board, a placemat... whatever is clever!

We used drywall anchors to attached the shelves to ensure they are nice and strong and safe!

Super inexpensive and super sweet!

Still a few more items to finish up before I can call this room update complete:

Paint entertainment center

Update light fixture

Window treatment

Additional seating

Additional toy storage

A fun wall treatment

Photographs/Artwork

Book storage

Basket Labels

I have absolutely zero ideas for artwork and how to best fill that giant wall of trees on the opposite side of the room.... So time to start scouring the www for inspiration. I have a feeling that the wall art is the piece of the playroom puzzle that will pull the whole room together!

Lauren and Heart and Haven, This is Lesley at ChaoticallyCreative.com I am not sure where Jen got the Fabric for the pillows or if she bought them already made but I have been planning on using it for my son's room. Here is an etsy shop link that sells it I hope this helps. http://www.etsy.com/listing/56636358/daydream-organic-cotton?ref=v1_other_1

Right now they are leaning against a wall waiting to find a new home {since they don't fit where the bench landed}. I am either going to use them in the playroom again or move them to our hallway upstairs. I will be sure to update you when it happens. :)

Love it! It might be cute to go with the woodland creature theme for your wall art since you already have some of those elements in the room. Maybe frame white silhouettes of critters on a green or blue backdrop? (kinda like the owl pillow you made)

It looks so great! I love it. For art work maybe your boys can each draw a picture and you can mat and frame them. They would look so cute grouped together on one wall. Happy shopping! Have a great weekend! :)

I have often wondered to myself why you did not do the tree stencil wall treatment to the wall where the window is for many reasons.

Artwork will not look good on it, Period. It would have been easier to leave the window walls blank (no artwork) and save the back wall for an artwork/photo frame display. It also would have made that odd ledge blend into the rest of the wall.

Now you're stuck and I am afraid everything you add to that accent wall is going to compete with it. It will be very interesting to see how you pull this off.

This room is looking really cool. I'm loving all the really cool and inexpensive storage ideas. I still think that chalkboard table is the BOMB! What happened to the kids' art gallery? Did you find a new place for it? Can that be incorporated on the tree wall or would that be too busy? Thanks for all the great inspiration.

Right now they are leaning against a wall waiting to find a new home {since they don't fit where the bench landed}. I am either going to use them in the playroom again or move them to our hallway upstairs. I will be sure to update you when it happens. :)

Get 1 medium sized tree trunk, (in my head I picture the same size diameter as the white ones on the wall) Cut it to fit perfectly from the bench to the ceiling.

Cut it vertically down the center. This would create two pieces with flat backs.

Secure the trees to the wall.

Hang a wire, string, branches, etc. from tree to tree. Use clips to hang pictures and artwork.

Carve your family initials in the tree.

You could even hang frames from the tree.

It would work well with the wood tones of the frames you put on the basket, I think it would be a nice slight rustic playful feel. The plus is you are not committed to any certain picture or artwork, it can always rotate.

Jen, I'm curious...do you keep a rather large stash of container-type items somewhere? Many of your simpler projects (such as blueberry's new home-hurricane/tray/sugar dish) seem to be possible through the use of containers that you already have, but that aren't necessarily swiped from use in another part of your home. Is that accurate? If you do keep a stash, in what way do you accumulate those items? (garage sales, thrifting, stumbling upon a good sale or even a good splurge, do people even offer you things because they think you are just the person who could put it to good use?) In other words, do you tend to shop forward, knowing that something that you've found will someday, somehow be used? And finally, if you do, what sort of characteristics do you look for so that you know it will be useful at some point?

Is this a better question for iHeart Answering? I wasn't sure since this question wasn't specific to me. It's just something I've been wondering.

I had originally purchased the sugar dish for some cotton pads in the bathroom and then found another dish at a thrift store that I liked more so I swapped it out. I typically have a one in, one out rule, but when it comes to storage, I do have a bin of items I can snag from. I rarely get rid of old storage, because it's often so versatile, I know I will find an other use for it some day. So if I see something amazing at a thrift store I may snatch it up. Storage items are one of the only types of items I let myself do this for since I can always use storage. It's a sickness.

I am in love with this room! I am currently in the process of making over my son's playroom and I am dying for an entertainment center like this one. Ideas on where to find one that isn't outrageously priced?!

Hi Jen! Adorable and creative storage - Love it. I just had a thought for your art dilemma. I have been socking away the dust jackets that come on some of our favorite hardcover books. in the past I would just toss them in the trash, because we always ended up tearing them and then it was just a mess. but then one day I looked at my little pile, and thought - holy cow. These would make perfect additions to our walls slip them in a frame with a mat, or even hang them from clipboards - free art! And it's book- related. yay! So, I haven't gotten around to putting mine up yet, but I bet you would do a bang up job. ;-) Love your blog!

Why don't you paint magnetic paint on the wall and literally make a map puzzle for that big blank wall? It is where each state is it's own puzzle piece.... so cute. I saw it on Pinterest and want to do it myself!!

Just a word about how to maximize Joann coupons: Joann has its newspaper coupons, its emailed coupons and its flyer coupons. If you have one from each of those sources, you can use one of each in a single transaction for a total of three coupons. The key is to double check that the bar code numbers are unique which is not hard to check. It won't work to print the same coupon three times from one source (ie. don't take your email coupon and print it three times) or try to use two of the same coupon from your newspaper and your neighbor's.

I hope that makes sense. It's always nice to save money when possible.

Such a smart idea! As far as the artwork is concerned, have you thought about framing your kids' masterpieces? Would add a playful kid-friendly touch and they would be so proud! You could also get multiple prints made of the same design on different shades/contrasts. Just a thought!

Hey Jen, How about looking into using your kids hands to create wall art. There are a lot of cute finds on Pinterest and I have LOVED doing these projects for my home with my boys...they also make cute inexpensive gifts for family! Good luck!

I have been trying to come up with an idea for this very same thing, and you've totally saved the day! I was wanting some Ikea shelves but since I live no where near an Ikea, that was never going to happen. Assuming I can get my hubby to pull this little project off-it's a perfect solution! Awesome idea!

Thank you for this idea! I've been wanting to use the IKEA spice racks in a similar way on a small wall in the kids' room, but they're not selling them the last couple times I've checked! this is a great alternative :)

I love your site and I get great tips from you! As for art I found a set of colorful alphabet stickers on 4 12x12 sheets on clearance at our local grocery store. I bought 4 cheap frames from hobby lobby and spray painted them red for a fun pop of color, and instant art!

Hi, I am wondering where you got the hanging brackets for the shelves. I went to home depot and couldn't find any and the sales people looked at me like I was crazy when I showed them the photo of the brackets! I also wonder how well the brackets have held up to carrying the weight of the shelves and books. Any tips would be appreciated! Thanks and great idea. I am trying to make these for my daughter's room that she will soon be sharing with her new sister! We need storage!

I believe we found them at a local Home Improvement store, however, which exact one I don't recall {we frequent Ace Hardware and Home Depot most frequently}. They have held up remarkably well! Fingers crossed you can hunt some down! Best of luck to you!

Hi Stephanie! I believe they are referred to as keyhole hanging brackets, and we found them at a local hardware store (probably Home Depot): http://www.homedepot.com/p/OOK-20-lb-Large-Keyhole-Hangers-2-Pack-50236/100018911?keyword=keyhole+hanger

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